Initiative:
|
The order of climbing, as described above, was Sephird first, who tied off a second rope and threw it down.
Ensu started up next, but got into difficulties. Just FYI, you need to fail by at least 5 to fall, so there was only one fall, from less than ten feet up, and there were enough people to catch you, so I don't think you needed to use that cure.
The others continued securing their gear to the second rope, which Sephird started raising.
Tregar started up the first rope, underneath Ensu (hoping the gnome doesn't fall on his head).
Once Sephird's pack reached the ledge, he stopped pulling, to untie his gear.
That's when events interrupt the plan.
So, rope one, we have Ensu, one climb check from the top,
Tregar, two climb checks from the top,
Kavrik didn't say when he was starting up, but since he didn't say he was waiting to the end, that makes him next, at three climb checks from the top,
Galstok and Valoria are four climb checks away, ie in the boat.
The sailors are frantically rowing to keep the boat stable and away from the rocks.
The second rope holds everyone's backpacks, in the order they're climbing above (no, I won't force Ensu to defend himself with Galstok's earthbreaker, no matter how funny that would be).
You are wondering why the second rope has stopped moving, when you see Sephird back up to the edge of the ledge (a precarious position to be sure). You can't hear him for the wind and waves, but he motions frantically for you to hurry.
If anyone wants to change their plan (either casting buffs before climbing, or speed their climbing rate) let me know, otherwise we'll assume people crawl over the ledge in the order above in subsequent rounds.
|
|
Round 2:
The creature charges (if that can truly describe its waddling gait across the ceiling), alternately lifting some of its suckered pads, and reaching out ahead of itself.
Attack
Damage
|
|
I make your CMD as 13, if this roll meets that, you will be grappled.
Sephird is next, then Ensu will haul himself over the ledge.
Ensu, your gear is still hanging over the edge, on the second rope, but can be dragged up for one move action.
Everyone else can move one round closer to the top; the creature isn't letting itself be seen from below. Galstok and Valoria can choose to start climbing or cast (now may be a good time for mage armor...
Dropping his bow, Sephird draws his shortsword and works to sever the arm.
As Ensu reaches the top of the ledge, he quickly steps aside to allow the next person up and manages to squeeze off a blessing from Nethys that makes everyone feel just a little better about fighting this thing.
|
|
As Ensu reaches the top of the ledge, he quickly steps over to the second rope to pull his gear up, and manages to squeeze off a blessing from Nethys that makes everyone feel just a little better about fighting this thing.
Which will it be; casting, or hauling your pack?
Getting over the ledge and into the cave is your move action, leaving you one standard or move.I'll let you keep the concentration check, if you choose to cast; I think you may need that Bless. And I'll give you the foresight to stick your casting hand out over the ledge, to catch everyone in the burst.
|
|
Seeing something has gone wrong already, Galstok will attempt to make his way up the rope so he can get to the aid of his companions.
Seeing the activities above she realizes that things are not well on the ledge above, she casts Mage Armour before climbing the rope after Galstok.
Ensu will start to pull people's gear up when he gets a chance, staying partially defensive as he does so.
|
|
Assuming everyone else on the rope keeps moving, at the end of the second round, we have;
Thing grappling,
Sephird grappled,
Ensu in the cave mouth (cast Bless),
Tregar, one climb check from the top,
Kavrik two climb checks from the top,
Galstok three climb checks from the top,
Valoria in the boat (cast Mage Armor).
The sailors are frantically rowing to keep the boat stable and away from the rocks.
For future rounds, I'll keep that order of initiative, since people lower down the rope will have had to keep delaying for those above them to move out their way.
Sephird swears under his breath and again attacks the creature again.
And his swort slides off the rubbery hide.
|
|
Grapple
Move plus constriction damage
The creature is not fast, so it keeps its hold on the cave roof, and concentrates on drawing Sephird closer inside, onto the far side of its body, away from the entrance (ie 3 squares in). Ensu hears Sephird's breath rattle, as his chest squeezes all his available air from his lungs, making him light-headed and hallucinate.
The tentacle continues to lash around the cave, searching for Ensu, who is actively dodging
Spike tentacle
This tentacle misses again, though the length and flexibility gives him cause for concern that it can reach the entire span of the cave mouth. Also disconcerting is the fact that the creature appears to have no eyes with which to detect him, yet the spike is always mere inches away.
This creature is designed, and described, for over 30 years, since its first appearance, as keeping hold with one limb, constricting, and attacking the grappled creature with its spare spiked tentacle, something which is impossible under the RAW, which requires a standard action to maintain the hold, so can't be done as part of a full attack.
As such, the only way it can act as described, is if it's given a racial ability to ignore the RAW, and perform the constriction as part of a full attack.
Since this is pretty darn dangerous, I'm willing to also houserule that if it does this, it foregoes the normal +5 circumstance bonus for maintaining the grapple on subsequent rounds (since it's less focussed on the one target.
(Gamespeak: The natural AC of the creature is way better than the hardest hide armor you've seen, it also has a great advantage in initiating and maintaining a grapple, but maybe not so much in resisting escape...unfortunately, your roll would fail either check, and you realise this as your eyes roll back in your head...)
Ensu will try to squeeze off another spell, this time Sanctuary, but fails miserably as he is forced to dodge out of the way of the tentacle.
|
|
Edits made to the map HERE.
Medium monster is 2 squares in, holding Sephird (S) in its short tentacle, waving its long tentacle (10' reach) around after Ensu.
Pick a square within that distance, and describe it in relation to the creature (eg 2 down, 1 left). I'll put your mark on, and erase some of the 'fog of war'.
During that activity, the tentacle takes an AoO; , but misses again, due to you slapping it away.
You can finish with your own pack in your hands, ready for next round.
(If you're wondering why the creature is a green pepper, Mrs Snorter seems to have uploaded about a thousand brushes into GIMP, so I got bored scrolling through.)
|
|
As this goes on, Tregar climbs over the ledge, sees the events, and curses.
"Bloody Hell, what kind of horror's this?"
Shouting below to the others "Some kind of land squid! Be on your guard!", he rolls under the waving tentacle, past his pack (no AoO drawn), and unhooks his spiked club, ending prone next to Sephird (one square south).
Kavrik continues to climb, one check from the top,
Galstok continues to climb, two checks from the top,
Valoria ?
|
|
Round 4:
Feeling the prey in its arm go limp, and finding itself facing new enemies, the creature lets go of Sephird , and lashes out at Tregar.
Tentacle
Grapple attempt (if required)
Next up is Sephird, then Ensu, Tregar, Kavrik.
"Zzzzzzzz"
Going for a bit of range himself, Ensu takes a step back to get out of the tentacle's reach, loads his crossbow, and fires at the creature overhead.
Pulling himself up into the cave, he takes in the situation. Sephird lying still on the ground, Tregar in its grasp.
With feral snarl Galstok leaps forward, pulling his blade from his waist as he closes and slashes his blade across the things body.
Rage: 1/5
Attack(pa):
Damage:
|
|
It's a hit! But not by much.
As you drive the blade forward, you are surprised by how tough the hide is, for such a flexible creature, and have to push hard, in several successive thrusts at the same spot, for the blade to finally break through.
The creature recoils, dragging itself off the blade, leaving you with the sight of green ichor.
New map is up; I took the liberty of putting Ensu out of harm's way, as the square you said would still have been in the creature's reach (see the squiggles, it has one short arm, and one long arm). Galstok is going to be in one of the entrance squares (move to climb in, standard to attack).
Kavrik climbs to the lip of the cave, and sees this.
Valoria is several feet below him.
Ensu reloads and takes aim at the tentacle beast once again.
|
Though losing the ability to breathe, one last effort should still be made to twist free. Deadeye does not protect quitters!
Escape Artist
More than enough to break free; unfortunately, the strain is too much, and as he tears his collar free, his face goes a deep shade of purple, as he croaks his last words before unconsciousness.
"Heal, Ensu, healing wave..."
He drops to the floor at the side of Sephird.
Seeing his blade be so ineffective against the beast's hide he drops it at his feet and reaches down, grabbing the shaft of his earthbreaker in both hands.
With a yell he steps forward and brings his hammer up swinging it hard against the beast.
Rage: 2/5
Attack(pa):
Damage(2h, pa):
If not in same square he will move and retrieve his weapon while sheathing the blade.
|
|
Your hammer's in reach, but it would provoke an AoO to retrieve it.
Also, Kavrik's gear is still tied to the rope and hanging outside, so he'll need a weapon when he climbs in. If he retrieves a weapon while still outside, he'll have no spare hand, and his climb skill will plummet.
Carry on with the dagger? Or do you feel lucky?
And, just in case there's been confusion, what I described as the difficulty of wounding the creature wasn't Damage Reduction, but really high natural AC.
Stepping forward after the beast, he slashes again at the beast.
Rage: 2/5
Attack(pa):
Damage(pa):
Crit Confirmation:
Crit Damage: